View Poll Results: Which pre-owned Xbox RPG should I get?

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30. This poll is closed
  • Fable

    3 10.00%
  • Jade Empire

    8 26.67%
  • KOTOR2

    15 50.00%
  • Other

    1 3.33%
  • GAH!

    3 10.00%
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Thread: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

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  1. #1

    Default Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    So I'm thinking of picking up one of these games 2nd hand for my Xbox (its the only thing I get to play on these days). Tell me which I should get and why.

    I played, finished and thoroughly enjoyed the original KOTOR, Xbox version FWIW.
    "I request permanent reassignment to the Gallic frontier. Nay, I demand reassignment. Perhaps it is improper to say so, but I refuse to fight against the Greeks or Macedonians any more. Give my command to another, for I cannot, I will not, lead an army into battle against a civilized nation so long as the Gauls survive. I am not the young man I once was, but I swear before Jupiter Optimus Maximus that I shall see a world without Gauls before I take my final breath."

    Senator Augustus Verginius

  2. #2
    Member Member Ferret's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    KOTOR2 was fun but my experienced was spoiled by having to restart so many times (techincal stuff) but even though I don't own fable it looks really good and I might buy it if I can't be bothered to wait for fable 2

  3. #3
    Senior Member Senior Member econ21's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    KOTOR2 is an excellent game. Very much the same kind of beast as KOTOR1, sharing nearly all the same vices and virtues. It is darker and more replayable, but less polished and sadly the combat is too easy (best play it on hard, but even then you won't die). I found it very immersive and the sidequests were much less tedious than some of the Kotor1s. The voice acting and dialogue are excellent, as they were in kotor1. I found the plot very gripping, if sometimes hard to discern, and the three main enemies are each very well drawn. I'd rate it up there with the best of the CRPGs. It may be better on the PC though - fans are working to put some of the lost content back into the game.

    Jade Empire is a very good game. I thought it would be an "RPG-lite" but it is pretty much the full Bioware CRPG experience. Strong plot, good dialogue, fun characters, decent combat system, interesting sidequests etc. It's a very solid title. It's a bit shorter and less compelling than Kotor2, imo. I can't imagine wanting to replay it any time soon, whereas Kotor2 is the kind of game I think I may replay every year or so. Presumably JE is a a good game to buy on the xbox (I can't imagine it being modded much).

    No idea about Fable - it never sounded that interesting.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    I'd go with Jade Empire. Econ21's verdict runs close to mine. The setting is refreshing, and really quite beautiful.

    You may remember how much I loved KOTOR. My view on the sequel is pretty much the polar opposite of Econ21's. It should be noted that I played the xbox edition and he the PC one, so some of the issues I encountered may have been fixed. It needed several more months of development time, absolute bare minimum. It's possibly the single most buggy console game I've played; it had frame rate issues too. Some of the side quests were broken, either outright or through things I'd done as I played through. The plot was butchered towards the end; huge chunks ripped out and left on the cutting room floor and the cracks papered over with a flimsy little bandage. I cannot agree that the three villains were good; one was, the unexpected one. The other two were so limp and generic I can't recall what they were called, let alone more. The voice acting was as good as KOTOR's, in all other respects the sequel exhibited few of the first game's production values. If you must play KOTORII get the PC version - after the fan mod which restores all the missing content is released. Play the complete game. If you can't wait that long get the PC version, play, then hunt down and read all the cut material before continuing. Then mourn the mess for the game it could have been.

    Fable is on my to-play pile. You can get the Lost Chapters edition (extra content, bug fixes etc) for under £10 these days. Someone I used to work with spent several weeks madly addicted to the game, and he talked about it for hours on end. Sounds like a nice action RPG: very pretty, decent options for building your character, thin on the plot and character development, short, easy.
    Frogbeastegg's Guide to Total War: Shogun II. Please note that the guide is not up-to-date for the latest patch.


  5. #5
    Robot Unicorn Member Kekvit Irae's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    Other: Neverwinter Nights, more specifically the Shadows of Undrentide and Hordes of the Underdark campaigns.

  6. #6
    Member Member Tratorix's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    KOTOR 2: A good game by most standards, but in my opinion it falls flat compared to the original. It has numerous bugs and glitches and some of the characeters feel a bit tacked on. The ending is also rather disapointing, even more so than the first KOTOR. Still, it is good by most standards, so don't let my hatred of the game colour your opinion too much.

    Fable: Didn't really grab my attention like some games do. It's a decently fun RPG, but don't expect anything amazing from it.

    Jade Empire: One of my personal favourites. An interesting storyline, good characters and excellent voice acting. The battle system is a bit easy, and your party members are pretty much worthless in combat, but it's still fairly fun. This would definitely be my pick out of the three. It's a bit shorter than your average RPG (an average playthrough is about 25 hours) but it has some replayability.

  7. #7
    Bureaucratically Efficient Senior Member TinCow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    Jade Empire is easily my vote. Great combat, an interesting plot, and a very unique 'universe.' A memorable game, though perhaps with little replayability.

    KOTO2 is generally good, but the ending is HORRIBLE. It pretty much ruined the whole game for me.

    Fable is (IMO) a poor game all around. It promises much and delivers on next to nothing. Play it only if you're interesting in fighting things in uninteresting ways, and not a whole lot more.


  8. #8
    Senior Member Senior Member econ21's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    Quote Originally Posted by frogbeastegg
    I cannot agree that the three villains were good; one was, the unexpected one. The other two ... I can't recall what they were called...
    Oh come on: one was called No-face (from Spirited Away); the other I call Shrek for his Scottish accent, although the name Atton gave him - "Sleeps with Vibroblades" - was pretty good.
    Last edited by econ21; 09-08-2007 at 23:20.

  9. #9
    Στωικισμός Member Bijo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    I voted KotOR2 simply because I find its gameplay and replayability greater than that of JE (which would be my other choice).

    JE may be technically superior and more properly finetuned (if it regards the PC versions) but its gameplay is too repetitive.

    JE's control scheme is more dynamic than KotOR's which is a good thing, but KotOR's is enjoyable.

    I also find JE's story lacking, and the characters uninteresting.

    The darkness and gloominess of KotOR2 are splendid.
    Emotion, passions, and desires are, thus peace is not.
    Emotion: you have it or it has you.

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    Pay heed to my story named The Thief in the Mead Hall.
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  10. #10
    Handler of candles Member Xehh II's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    I asked this somewhere else but I can't find it, so I'll ask it again, what is KOTOR?
    A ha ha! Rainbows and unicorns! Rainbows and unicorns!

  11. #11
    Senior Member Senior Member econ21's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    Quote Originally Posted by Xehh II
    I asked this somewhere else but I can't find it, so I'll ask it again, what is KOTOR?
    Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic:

    http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/starwa...result;title;1

    Best CRPG series since Baldur's Gate, IMO.

  12. #12
    Bureaucratically Efficient Senior Member TinCow's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bijo
    JE may be technically superior and more properly finetuned (if it regards the PC versions) but its gameplay is too repetitive.
    I highly recommend replaying it while making tons of ridiculous kung-fu sounds every time you fight. I got a lot of pleasure out of it that way.

    Am I the only one who enjoys talking smack to the computer? Whenever I get 'powerful' in games, I can't stop myself from making wisecracks while I slaughter everything around me.


  13. #13
    Στωικισμός Member Bijo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    Quote Originally Posted by TinCow
    I highly recommend replaying it while making tons of ridiculous kung-fu sounds every time you fight. I got a lot of pleasure out of it that way.
    I don't think that would be effective for me, heheh

    Am I the only one who enjoys talking smack to the computer? Whenever I get 'powerful' in games, I can't stop myself from making wisecracks while I slaughter everything around me.
    In my case...

    When I played a game in which I was to battle with all kinds of moves in it or when it had lots of first-person shooting (and difficulty) I sometimes started cursing at the game's opponents. Because it involves cursing it has been "ex'd".
    "Jay Lenodamnit! Take that!"
    "You think you can **** me up? Hm? Hm?!"
    "Arrrrrgh!!! Arrrgh!!!"
    "Arrrgh! *******, *******.... ARRRGH!!"
    "Yeah, yeah, you like that don't you, you ****."
    "You is gun' die." (with a Southern accent)
    "****!"
    "Ah ****!"
    "Arrgh... just die already."
    "Noooooo!"
    "Arrrgh, almost!!!"

    And when a friend or just somebody was near watching me play games like that...
    "And what the **** YOU lookin' at?"




    Of course, this kind of activity hardly occurs nowadays... still, sometimes a game agitates me and then it's possible the kinds of lament described above could apply
    Last edited by Kekvit Irae; 09-11-2007 at 01:45.
    Emotion, passions, and desires are, thus peace is not.
    Emotion: you have it or it has you.

    ---

    Pay heed to my story named The Thief in the Mead Hall.
    No.

    ---

    Check out some of my music.

  14. #14

    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    Quote Originally Posted by econ21
    Oh come on: one was called No-face (from Spirited Away); the other I call Shrek for his Scottish accent, although the name Atton gave him - "Sleeps with Vibroblades" - was pretty good.
    Um ... :gets the grey cells working: There was the fragile one with the mask who was supposed to be all spooky and mystical. Then there was one who was the opposite: all tough and burly and about as mystical as a sock. Guess he would be "sleeps-with-vibroblades" ... though I cannot for the life of me remember what he looked like!



    In the Baldur's Gate V KOTOR debate the winner is clearly Planescape: Torment.
    Frogbeastegg's Guide to Total War: Shogun II. Please note that the guide is not up-to-date for the latest patch.


  15. #15
    Nobody expects the Senior Member Lemur's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    Quote Originally Posted by frogbeastegg
    In the Baldur's Gate V KOTOR debate the winner is clearly Planescape: Torment.
    In the Planescape v KOTOR v BG debate, the obvious choice is Fallout.

    I never really got the hang of combat on the PC with Jade Empire, and that kinda prevented me from enjoying it. Is it worth another run? When I've got Kingdoms to play with?

  16. #16
    Senior Member Senior Member econ21's Avatar
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    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur
    I never really got the hang of combat on the PC with Jade Empire, and that kinda prevented me from enjoying it. Is it worth another run?
    Definitely worth persevering with. It has a nice main story arc - the closest comparator is Kotor - and some interesting sidequests. I rather liked the romantic element.

    There is a cheesy way to make the combat easy - there is a stunning attack (Stone Dragon?) that will disable your opponents long enough to whack them with a conventional attack. This attack will see you through even the ultimate boss.

    The other trick I recall is jumping over the opponent - once you have done that you can typically smack them before they can react.

    The best thing is just to pay attention to the early training lessons - they tell you all you need to know. Then practice fighting with the monks at the beginning.

    IIRC, the pirates with their cannon were hard so early on but don't let them put you off; the game gets much easier afterwards (perhaps because the stunning attack is acquired later?). I rather enjoyed the combat after I got the hang of it - not much to it, but it felt rather Bruce Lee, all the whacking and smacking.

    As has been said, your companions are worthless in a fight so I used them in support - or let them fight until they were nearly knocked out and then switch to support (the enemy does not touch them when they are in support).
    Last edited by econ21; 09-10-2007 at 10:28.

  17. #17

    Default Re: Fable, KOTOR2 or Jade Empire?

    Quote Originally Posted by Lemur
    I never really got the hang of combat on the PC with Jade Empire, and that kinda prevented me from enjoying it. Is it worth another run? When I've got Kingdoms to play with?
    I know someone who had a similar issue. In the end he brought a console style controller, said it made life much easier. Perhaps see if you can borrow one from someone?
    Frogbeastegg's Guide to Total War: Shogun II. Please note that the guide is not up-to-date for the latest patch.


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